The recent equity market flash-crash was determined to be a product of the computer-run systems we rely so heavily on. The flash crash produced a 1000-plus point market drop. And worse, we should expect another flash-crash in the future. With our lives increasingly over-taken by computers, the FLASH CRASH could happen not only on Wall… [Read More]
MANHATTAN INFLATION, MTA-style
Anyone worried about inflation going away in New York, and worse, turning into deflation (the talk du jour), should look to the MTA for some relief. In a recent audit, astounding abuse of the overtime pay system is revealed. This is on top of the absurd retirement policies they have in place. An example: The audit… [Read More]
HUDSON BLUES….
In this morning’s Wall Street Journal, the next stage in the saga of the building HUDSON BLUE at 423 West Street is reported: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704017904575409722058648014.html This building, located a few doors down from the 3 Richard Meier Towers, home to celebrities Calvin Klein and Hugh Jackman, somewhat emulating their glass and white steel facade, has been… [Read More]
IS WALKING TO WORK IN VOGUE?
Conde Nast is in the final stages of negotiating its new office space lease in the new World Trade Center building….this means if you see a fabulously rail-thin figure hiding behind a Birkin bag, power-walking in a southerly direction, it may just turn out to be Anna Wintour, the empress of Vogue, who will officially… [Read More]
NEW YORK HAS THE MOST MILLIONAIRES, BUT….
In to-days Wall Street Journal, a tally is made of the number of millionaires (those with at least $ 1million in investable assets) in the major cities of the US: New York ranks #1, and has almost as many millionaires as Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington and San Francisco…combined! The number grew almost 19% in 2009. BUT, $ 1million… [Read More]
SLIM SHADY?
It was reported in the Wall Street Journal to-day that the world’s richest man, Carlos Slim of Mexico, may have failed to pay the real estate broker that had listed the property before it sold a commission on the purchase of the Duke-Semans Mansion at 1009 Fifth Avenue…. Of course, the Seller would be the… [Read More]
MORE THAN HALF OF NYC CONSTRUCTION IS EDUCATIONAL
New York City’s education sector has become an increasingly important market for the construction industry, according to the New York Building Congress, a nonprofit group that represents the construction industry. Elementary and secondary schools, as well as higher education institutions, accounted for 56% of the value of all institutional construction starts between May 2008 and… [Read More]
ARCHITECTURE SHIFT: IS THE GLASS BOX TREND OVER?
“New Yorkers may be burnt out on glass buildings,” architect James Carpenter said in a recent New York Times article. With over more than 30 years as a glass artist, he is now more focused on using the material not as mere enclosure, but as a tool for manipulating light. The debate still rages on… [Read More]
JOB CREATION IN NEW YORK CITY BEATS REST OF US.
CRAIN’s reports: After more than a year in which Greenhouse IT couldn’t land a single sales meeting, the company has finally gotten its foot in the door at city businesses over the past three months to pitch its workstation, server and network-management services. “The good news is, companies are ready to talk,” says Simon… [Read More]
THE MANHATTAN GARAGE
In this weekend’s New York Times, a story about the highly desirable private garage is a good read….of course, boldly mentioned is 200 Eleventh Avenue, the only condominium tower in the USA featuring private garages attached to each apartment, vertically, known as an En Suite Sky Garage. Developed by Urban Muse and Young Woo &… [Read More]